Arteta Welcomes Discipline Shift as Arsenal Prepare for Brighton Test
Mikel Arteta enters Arsenal’s latest meeting with Brighton relieved that a lingering issue from last season has been addressed, with the Gunners aiming to protect their Premier League lead at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal’s title push last season was repeatedly complicated by disciplinary lapses, most notably in a costly draw with Brighton when Declan Rice was sent off. That pattern, which frustrated Arteta throughout the campaign, has since faded, offering renewed confidence ahead of the Seagulls’ visit.
The Rice dismissal came during a turbulent opening to the 2024–25 season, when Arsenal were eager to set an early marker. Despite winning five of their first eight league matches, they were twice reduced to ten men, with Leandro Trossard dismissed in a 2–2 draw against Manchester City and William Saliba sent off in a 2–0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Those moments became part of a wider trend. Arsenal finished second for a third consecutive season but collected six red cards across the campaign, at least three more than any other Premier League side, undermining their consistency at key points.
The flashpoint against Brighton remains one of the most memorable. Rice received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away as Joel Veltman prepared to take a free kick, a decision referee Chris Kavanagh deemed time-wasting. Arsenal, who had gone ahead through Kai Havertz, were eventually pegged back as Joao Pedro capitalized on Brighton’s numerical advantage.
That afternoon still resonates with Arteta. Reflecting on it this week, the Arsenal manager admitted his frustration stemmed not just from the decision itself but from how his team struggled to manage the game with ten men. He also pointed to subsequent rule adjustments, hopeful that similar situations can now be avoided.
The context around Arsenal has changed significantly. In the current 2025–26 campaign, the club has yet to receive a red card, collecting only 22 yellow cards across 17 matches. When informed of that statistic, Arteta appeared genuinely surprised, acknowledging the improvement with clear approval.
Saturday’s fixture arrives with Arsenal in control at the summit and Brighton under Fabian Hurzeler looking to disrupt another title contender. The Emirates is expected to provide a charged atmosphere, with early exchanges likely to be intense as both sides press high and contest midfield control.
For Arsenal, the emphasis will be on composure as much as quality. The memory of last season’s setbacks against Brighton serves as a reminder of how fine margins can swing momentum.
This time, Arteta’s side heads into the contest with discipline on their side, knowing that maintaining eleven players on the pitch could be just as decisive as any moment of attacking brilliance in shaping their title credentials.